Deep hydrogenation of coal tar over a Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst

We have developed a Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst and utilised it to completely hydrogenate a series of condensed arenes, including naphthalene, anthracene and phenanthrene, under relatively mild conditions. The yields of decalin, perhydroanthracene and perhydrophenanthrene reached 100%, 98.8% and 25.8%, respectively. By analyzing the isomer distribution of the perhydroarenes, we proposed a mechanism of biatomic hydrogen transfer, which was further proven via the hydrogenation of 9,10-diphenylanthracene. Through hydrotreatment over the Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst, both high-temperature coal tar rich in condensed arenes and low-temperature coal tar mixing arenes with alkanes were greatly upgraded. The majority of arenes in the coal tars were deeply and even completely hydrogenated, which may open up a route for further processing and application of coal tar as clean fuels.